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Loyola at a Glance

College of Law graduate elected president of American Association for Justice

November 8, 2013

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law alumnus, Burton LeBlanc, J.D. ’90, was elected president of the American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.

LeBlanc is an attorney with Baron Budd PC in Baton Rouge, La., where he concentrates his practice in the areas of environmental law, securities and asbestos litigation. Election as president of American Association for Justice is a natural step for LeBlanc as the mission of the organization closely aligns with his career, much of which has been devoted to advocating for individuals harmed by corporate wrongdoing who are seeking justice and accountability.

“I knew from an early age that I wanted to fight for my neighbors and give a voice to those who need justice. As a young lawyer, a man with mesothelioma sought my counsel. It was the first case of its kind against his employer, a large manufacturing plant on the Mississippi River. After digging into the case, I uncovered terrible working conditions that did not provide a safe workplace for workers who were being dosed daily with the most potent forms of asbestos. I went on to represent a number of men from this plant, and it changed the course of my life and practice,” LeBlanc said.

Growing up in Louisiana, LeBlanc saw firsthand how dangerous the workplace can be and how threats to the environment can impact health and financial security. He began his legal career representing victims of toxic exposure and workplace hazards, including cases involving asbestos and benzene, communities contaminated from old waste sites and plants, as well as a number of cities and water providers, where water supplies were contaminated by chemicals. He also advocates for individuals seeking financial accountability from corporate fraud and misconduct, including retirement systems. LeBlanc has also successfully represented many governmental entities, including the states of Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia, in complex consumer fraud litigation.

LeBlanc has also served as president of the Louisiana Association for Justice (Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association) and has been appointed to numerous committees by federal courts and the Louisiana Supreme Court. He has testified before the Louisiana legislature, appeared on radio and television shows, and spoken at many legal seminars about consumers’ rights and misguided tort reform efforts.

“Advocating for your clients does not end at the courtroom. As president of the American Association for Justice, the world’s largest trial lawyer association, I am fighting for the right of all Americans to access the civil justice system. Our country is safer today thanks to Americans who stood up to corporations and held them accountable in the court,” LeBlanc said.

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